Method for configuring power in wireless communication system and apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an antenna array configured to include a plurality of antenna modules, a communication circuit configured to include a plurality of power amplifiers connected with the plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of phase shifters, at least one processor operatively connected with the communication circuit, and a memory operatively connected with the at least one processor and includes instructions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of Prior application Ser.No. 16/202,842, filed on Nov. 28, 2018, which will be issued as U.S.Pat. No. 10,658,978 on May 19, 2020 which was based on and claimedpriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean patent application number10-2017-0159779, filed on Nov. 28, 2017, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referenceherein its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to technologies of measuring and configuring atransmit power in a wireless communication system.

2. Description of Related Art

A wireless communication system has developed into a direction forsupporting a higher data transmission rate to meet a continuouslygrowing traffic demand for wireless data. Recently, research has beenconducted in fifth generation (5G) communication technologies which arenext generation communication technologies of fourth generation (4G)communication technologies. The 5G communication technologies have atechnical goal of receiving data traffic corresponding to about 1000times greater than long term evolution (LTE) which is a kind of the 4Gcommunication technologies, dramatically increasing a transmission rateper user, which reaches an average transmission rate of 1 Gbps,receiving the number of connected electronic devices which are increasedmassively, low end-to-end latency, and high energy efficiency. A 5Gnetwork may transmit and receive a higher millimeter Wave (mmWave) bandfrequency than a 4G network. For example, the 5G network may transmitand receive a signal of a wideband frequency band, which is a highfrequency such as 28 GHz.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination hasbeen made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

When power is calibrated, the signal transmission and receptionefficiency of a radio frequency band (RF) band may be increased.According to the related art, a user or a producer may separately verifyand calibrate a power value.

An electronic device which supports 5G network communication may includean antenna array for the 5G network communication. It is inefficientthat the user or the producer performs calibration per antenna elementincluded in an antenna array, resulting in an inaccurate calibrationresult.

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentionedproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to providean electronic device for calibrating a power amplificationcharacteristic and a phase characteristic using an over the air (OTA)manner.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device isprovided. The electronic device includes an antenna array configured toinclude a plurality of antenna elements, a communication circuitconfigured to include a plurality of power amplifiers connected with theplurality of antenna elements and a plurality of phase shifters, atleast one processor configured to be operatively connected with thecommunication circuit, and a memory configured to be operativelyconnected with the at least one processor and includes instructions. Theinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause theat least one processor to amplify at least one signal using theplurality of power amplifiers and transmit the at least one signal viathe plurality of antenna elements, change a power gain of at least oneof the plurality of power amplifiers based on a transmit powercorresponding to a signal amplified by a specified power amplifier amongthe at least one transmitted signal, and change a parameter associatedwith a phase of at least one of the plurality of phase shifters in astate where the power gain is changed.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronic isprovided. The electronic device includes an antenna array configured toinclude a plurality of antenna elements, a communication circuitconfigured to include a plurality of power amplifiers connected with theplurality of antenna elements, at least one processor configured to beoperatively connected with the communication circuit, and a memoryconfigured to be operatively connected with the at least one processorand includes instructions. The instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to output afirst signal through a first power amplifier connected with a firstantenna element having a first gain among the plurality of poweramplifiers via the communication circuit, output a second signal througha second power amplifier connected with a second antenna element havinga second gain among the plurality of power amplifiers via thecommunication circuit, and change the second gain based on a transmitpower corresponding to the first signal.

According to embodiments disclosed in the disclosure, the electronicdevice may efficiently and accurately obtain the calibrated result.

In addition, various effects directly or indirectly ascertained throughthe disclosure may be provided.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a transmit power measurementsystem according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of electronicdevices according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a firstelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of acommunication device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of acommunication circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of acommunication circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual flowchart illustrating calibration associatedwith a communication circuit according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation of selectivelycalibrating a power amplifier according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a saturation characteristic of a poweramplifier according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a power amplifier cell calibrationoperation of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a power amplifier cell calibrationoperation of an electronic device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating a phase compensation method accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating an amplification characteristic in alinear region and a saturation region of a power amplifier according toan embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation where an electronicdevice estimates a transmit power, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure; and

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device 1501 in anetwork environment according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of variousembodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the various embodiments describedherein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of thedisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of various embodiments of thedisclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a transmit power measurementsystem according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a transmit power measurement system 1000, afirst electronic device 100 may calibrate power based on an over the air(OTA) manner. According to an embodiment, the transmit power measurementsystem 1000 may include at least one of the first electronic device 100,a second electronic device 200 for obtaining measurement information ofthe first electronic device 100 and controlling the first electronicdevice 100 to perform power calibration, or a measurement device 300 formeasuring a transmit power of the first electronic device 100.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device 100 may obtainat least one of measurement information or control information from thesecond electronic device 200 which is an external device. According toan embodiment, the first electronic device 100 may calibrate power basedon the obtained measurement information or control information.

According to an embodiment, the measurement information may includemeasurement information obtained from the measurement device 300 by thesecond electronic device 200. The measurement information may include,for example, a transmit power or a transmit phase.

According to an embodiment, the control information may includeinformation for allowing the first electronic device 100 to perform atleast a part of a power calibration operation according to an embodimentof the disclosure. The control information may include a parameterassociated with power necessary for the power calibration.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device 100 may obtain aparameter associated with the power from the second electronic device200 or may obtain a parameter associated with the power based on themeasurement information. According to an embodiment, the parameterassociated with the power may include a parameter associated with apower gain or a parameter associated with a phase. The parameterassociated with the power gain may include at least one of a quiescentcurrent or a parameter associated with a drive amplifier.

According to an embodiment, the second electronic device 200 may obtainmeasurement information from the measurement device 300. The secondelectronic device 200 may transmit the measurement information to thefirst electronic device 100. For example, the second electronic device200 may process the measurement information in a form which may beprocessed by the first electronic device 100 and may transmit theprocessed information to the first electronic device 100.

According to an embodiment, the second electronic device 200 may obtaina parameter associated with the power based on the measurementinformation and may transmit the parameter associated with the power tothe first electronic device 100.

According to an embodiment, the second electronic device 200 maytransmit a parameter associated with power or the measurement to thefirst electronic device 100 in a wired or wireless communication mode.

According to an embodiment, the second electronic device 200 may controla power calibration operation of the first electronic device 100according to embodiments disclosed in the disclosure. For example, whendetermining that it is necessary for the first electronic device 100 tochange a parameter or perform a specified operation, the secondelectronic device 200 may transmit control information to the firstelectronic device 100.

According to an embodiment, the measurement device 300 may measure atransmit power or a transmit phase of a signal transmitted from thefirst electronic device 100. According to an embodiment, the measurementdevice 300 may include an antenna to obtain the signal. The antenna mayinclude, for example, an antenna in the form of a horn.

According to an embodiment, the measurement device 300 may obtain asignal emitted in an OTA manner via an antenna module of the firstelectronic device 100 and may measure a power or phase of the obtainedsignal. For example, the measured power value may be referred to as atransmit power, and the measured phase value may be referred to as atransmit phase.

According to an embodiment, the measurement device 300 may transmitmeasurement information to the second electronic device 200. Themeasurement device 300 may transmit the measurement information to thesecond electronic device 200 in a wired or wireless communication mode.

The components of the transmit power measurement system 1000 shown InFIG. 1 may be an example and may cover various modifications capable ofimplementing various embodiments disclosed in the disclosure. Forexample, the measurement device 300 and the second electronic device 200may be implemented as one device. For another example, some of theoperations of the second electronic device 200 may be performed by thefirst electronic device 100, or some of the operations of the firstelectronic device 100 may be performed by the second electronic device200.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of electronicdevices according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first electronic device 100 may include aprocessor 110, a memory 120, a communication module 130, and an antennamodule 10. The components of the first electronic device 100 shown inFIG. 2 may be an example and may cover various modifications capable ofimplementing various embodiments disclosed in the disclosure. Forexample, the first electronic device 100 may include the same componentsas an electronic device 1501 shown in FIG. 15 or may be suitablymodified using the components.

According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may execute instructionsstored in the memory 120, and may perform an operation according tovarious embodiments disclosed in the disclosure or may control othercomponents to perform the operation. According to an embodiment, theprocessor 110 may perform an operation according to control of thesecond electronic device 200. The processor 110 may perform wired orwireless communication with an external device via the communicationmodule 130. According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may include anapplication processor (AP) and/or a communication processor (CP).

According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may determine a transmitpower of a signal to be transmitted via the communication module 130. Inthe description below, the transmit power determined by the processor110 may be referred to as an input power.

According to an embodiment, the processor 110 may obtain a parameterassociated with power and may apply the parameter associated with thepower to the communication module 130. For example, the processor 110may deliver a control signal to the communication module 130 to applythe parameter associated with the power. For example, the parameterassociated with the power may be a parameter capable of adjusting acharacteristic of a transmit power of a signal transmitted via thecommunication module 130.

According to an embodiment, the memory 120 may store instructionscausing the processor 110 to perform an operation according to anembodiment disclosed in the disclosure. In addition, the memory 120 maystore a variety of information according to an embodiment disclosed inthe disclosure. For example, the memory 120 may store a powercalibration result. The power calibration result may include at leastone of a parameter associated with power, a feedback receive power, ameasured transmit power, or an input power.

According to an embodiment, the memory 120 may include a volatile ornonvolatile memory. According to an embodiment, the power calibrationresult may be stored in a nonvolatile memory.

According to an embodiment, the communication module 130 may communicatewith an external device over a network. For example, the communicationmodule 130 may communicate with the network using wired communication orwireless communication. According to an embodiment, the wirelesscommunication may comply with a cellular communication protocol.According to an embodiment, the communication module 130 may be includedin a communication module 1590 of FIG. 15.

According to an embodiment, the communication module 130 may beelectrically or operatively connected with the antenna module 10.According to an embodiment, the antenna module 10 may include aplurality of antenna elements. According to an embodiment, the antennamodule 10 may include at least one antenna array.

According to an embodiment, the second electronic device 200 may includea processor 210, a memory 220, or a communication module 230. Thecomponents of the second electronic device 200 shown in FIG. 2 may covervarious modifications capable of implementing various embodimentsdisclosed in the disclosure. For example, the second electronic device200 may include the same components as the electronic device 1501 shownin FIG. 15 or may be suitably modified using the components.

According to an embodiment, the processor 210 may execute instructionsstored in the memory 120, and may perform an operation according tovarious embodiments disclosed in the disclosure or may control othercomponents to perform the operation. The processor 210 may perform wiredor wireless communication with an external device via the communicationmodule 230. According to an embodiment, the processor 210 may include anAP and/or a CP.

According to an embodiment, the processor 210 may control the firstelectronic device 100 to perform power calibration according to variousembodiments disclosed in the disclosure. The processor 210 may generatecontrol information and may transmit the generated control informationto the first electronic device 100 via the communication module 230.

According to an embodiment, the processor 210 may transmit measurementinformation to the first electronic device 100 and/or may transmit aparameter associated with power obtained based on the measurementinformation to the first electronic device 100.

According to an embodiment, the memory 220 may store instructionscausing the processor 210 to perform an operation according to anembodiment disclosed in the disclosure. The memory 220 may storeinstructions causing the processor 210 to perform at least a part of apower calibration operation disclosed in the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, the communication module 230 may communicatewith an external device over the network. For example, the communicationmodule 230 may communicate with the network using wired communication orwireless communication. According to an embodiment, the secondelectronic device 200 may obtain measurement information from ameasurement device 300 of FIG. 1 via the communication module 230 andmay transmit the measurement information to the first electronic device100.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., an electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 1) may include an antenna array (e.g., an antennamodule 10 of FIG. 1) configured to include a plurality of antennaelements, a communication circuit (e.g., a second communication circuit132 of FIG. 3) configured to include a plurality of power amplifiers(e.g., power amplifier(s) 410 in FIG. 4) connected with the plurality ofantenna elements and a plurality of phase shifters (e.g., phaseshifter(s) 413 and 414 of FIG. 5), at least one processor (e.g., aprocessor 110 of FIG. 2) configured to be operatively connected with thecommunication circuit, and a memory (e.g., a memory 120 of FIG. 2)configured to be operatively connected with the at least one processorand include instructions. The instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to amplify atleast one signal using the plurality of power amplifiers, transmit theat least one signal via the plurality of antenna elements, change apower gain of at least one of the plurality of power amplifiers based ona transmit power corresponding to a signal amplified by a specifiedpower amplifier among the at least one transmitted signal, and change aparameter associated with at least one of the plurality of phaseshifters in a state where the power gain is changed.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor tosequentially transmit the at least one signal through the plurality ofpower amplifiers.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to, whiletransmitting the at least one signal through any one of the plurality ofpower amplifiers, turn off the other power amplifiers.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to change atleast one of a quiescent current or a bias voltage of the at least onepower amplifier based on the transmit power.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit may include aplurality of drive amplifiers configured to be operatively connectedwith the plurality of power amplifiers. The instructions, when executedby the at least one processor, may cause the at least one processor tocontrol a parameter associated with a drive amplifier connected to theat least one power amplifier based on the transmit power.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of power amplifiers mayoperate in a linear region (e.g., a linear region 901 of FIG. 9) or asaturation region (e.g., a saturation region 902 of FIG. 9), and thetransmit power may be obtained in the linear region.

According to an embodiment, the transmit power may be the lowest valueamong transmit powers of signals output from the plurality ofamplifiers.

According to an embodiment, the at least one power amplifier may be apower amplifier except for the specified power amplifier among theplurality of power amplifiers.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to transmitanother signal through the plurality of antenna elements in a statewhere the power gain is changed and change a parameter associated withthe phase based on a transmit power of the other signal.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to transmitthe other signal during the same time interval through the plurality ofantenna elements.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to compare atransmit power of the other signal with an input power or a feedbackpower and change the phase of the at least one of the plurality of phaseshifters based on the compared result.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit may furtherinclude a coupler (e.g., a coupler 470 of FIG. 5) configured to feedback at least a part of the other signal. The instructions, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, may cause the at least oneprocessor to obtain a first feedback power corresponding to 1 dBcompression point (P1 dB) of a first power amplifier among the poweramplifiers through the coupler and obtain a second feedback powercorresponding to P1 dB of a second power amplifier which outputs asignal of the lowest transmit power, from the first feedback power.

According to an embodiment, the input power of the other signal maycorrespond to the second feedback power.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit may furtherinclude a power divider (e.g., a power divider 420 of FIG. 4) configuredto divide an input power among a plurality of power amplifiers and anup-converter (e.g., an up-converter 430 of FIG. 4) configured to changea frequency of the input power. The coupler may be located between thepower divider and the up-converter.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., an electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 1) may include an antenna array (e.g., an antennamodule 10 of FIG. 2 or an antenna array 12 of FIG. 3) configured toinclude a plurality of antenna elements, a communication circuit (e.g.,a communication circuit 132 of FIG. 3) configured to include a pluralityof power amplifiers (e.g., power amplifier(s) 410 of FIG. 4) connectedwith the plurality of antenna elements, at least one processorconfigured to be operatively connected with the communication circuit,and a memory configured to be operatively connected with the at leastone processor and include instructions. The instructions, when executedby the at least one processor, may cause the at least one processor tooutput a first signal through a first power amplifier configured to beconnected with a first antenna element (e.g., an antenna element 601 ofFIG. 6) and have a first gain among the plurality of power amplifiers(e.g., power amplifier(s) 632 of FIG. 6) via the communication circuitand output a second signal through a second power amplifier (e.g., poweramplifier(s) 642 of FIG. 6) configured to be connected with a secondantenna element (e.g., an antenna element 602 of FIG. 6) and have asecond gain among the plurality of power amplifiers via thecommunication circuit, and change the second gain based on a transmitpower corresponding to the first signal.

According to an embodiment, the transmit power corresponding the firstsignal may be a value lower than a transmit power corresponding to thesecond signal.

According to an embodiment, the first power amplifier and the secondpower amplifier may operate in a linear region (e.g., a linear region901 of FIG. 9) or a saturation region (e.g., a saturation region 902 ofFIG. 9), and, while transmitting the first signal and the second signal,the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier may operate inthe linear region.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor tosequentially transmit the first signal and the second signal.

According to an embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, may cause the at least one processor to change atleast one of a quiescent current or a bias voltage of the second poweramplifier based on a transmit power corresponding to the first signal.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit may include adrive amplifier configured to be electrically connected with the secondamplifier. The instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, may cause the at least one processor to change a parameterassociated with the drive amplifier based on a transmit powercorresponding to the first signal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a firstelectronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, a first electronic device 100 (e.g., a firstelectronic device 100 of FIG. 2) may transmit or receive ahigh-frequency broadband signal with an external device over a wirelessnetwork. For example, the first electronic device 100 may support totransmit or receive a millimeter Wave (mmWave) band signal, for example,a fifth generation (5G) signal. The 5G signal may include, for example,at least a part (e.g., 28 GHz, 39 GHz, or 60 GHz) of 20 GHz to 100 GHz.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first electronic device 100 (e.g., the firstelectronic device 100 of FIG. 2) may include components for transmittingor receiving the mmWave band signal with an external device. Forexample, the first electronic device 100 may include a communicationmodule 112 (e.g., a communication module 1590 of FIG. 15, a cellularmodem, or a 5G modem), a first communication circuit 134 (e.g., anintermediate frequency (IF) circuit), and a communication device 131(e.g., an mmWave module). In addition, the structure of the firstelectronic device 100 may cover various modifications according tovarious embodiments described in the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, the communication module 112 may support themmWave band signal. For example, the communication module 112 maysupport 5G communication and next generation communication. For example,the communication module 112 may be referred to as a 5G modem. Accordingto an embodiment, the communication module 112 may include a CP.

According to an embodiment, the first communication circuit 134 maydeliver a signal, received via an antenna array 12, to the communicationmodule 112 or may deliver a signal, obtained from the communicationmodule 112, to the communication device 131. For example, the firstcommunication circuit 134 may be located between the communicationmodule 112 and the communication device 131. For example, the firstcommunication circuit 134 may process an IF signal. The firstcommunication circuit 134 may be referred to as, for example, an IFintegrated circuit (IFIC). The IF signal may be, for example, a signalof a 7-15 GHz band.

According to an embodiment, the first communication circuit 134 maytransmit or receive a signal with the communication device 131 through acable 135. The cable 135 may be, for example, a coaxial cable or a radiofrequency (RF) flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

According to an embodiment, the communication device 131 may include asecond communication circuit 132 (e.g., an RF circuit, an RFIC, or anmmW (mmWave) IC) and/or the antenna array 12. The communication device131 may be implemented with, for example, an integrated chip includingthe second communication circuit 132 and the antenna array 12 or amodule (or device). For example, the communication device 131 mayprocess an mmW band signal and may transmit or receive the mmW bandsignal with an external device (e.g., a base station). For anotherexample, the communication device 151 may be referred to as an RF modulewhich processes an RF band signal and transmits or receives the RF bandsignal with the external device.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device 100 may includea plurality of communication devices (e.g., the communication device131). According to an embodiment, the first electronic device 100 maysimultaneously or sequentially calibrate the plurality of communicationdevices.

According to an embodiment, the second communication circuit 132 mayconvert a signal between an RF band an IF band. For example, the secondcommunication circuit 132 may convert an IF signal obtained from thefirst communication circuit 134 into an RF signal or may convert an RFsignal obtained through the antenna array 12 into an IF signal.According to an embodiment, the RF signal may be an mmWave band signal.The second communication circuit 132 may include an mmW IC and/or an RFfront end (RFFE).

According to an embodiment, the antenna array 12 (e.g., an antennamodule 10 of FIG. 2) may transmit or receive a high frequency or abroadband signal. The antenna array 12 may include a plurality ofantenna elements. For example, the antenna array 12 may be a 5G antenna.

According to an embodiment, the mmWave frequency band may vary for eachusing entity. For example, the mmWave frequency band may be a frequencyband of 24 GHz to 27 GHz in Europe, a band of 24 GHz to 31 GHz in Japan,a frequency band of 26 GHz to 29 GHz in the Republic of Korea, and afrequency band of 28 GHz to 39 GHz in the United States. According tovarious embodiments disclosed in the disclosure, an electronic devicemay process various high-frequency broadband signals. In embodimentsdisclosed in the disclosure, the situation where the mmWave frequencyband signal is transmitted and received is described as one example.However, embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, theembodiments disclosed in the disclosure may be used when signals ofvarious frequency bands are transmitted and received.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of acommunication device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, a communication circuit 400 (e.g., a secondcommunication circuit 132 of FIG. 3) may include power amplifiers 410and 440, a power divider 420, a power combiner 450, and mixers 430 and460. The components of the communication circuit 400 shown in FIG. 4 maycover various modifications capable of implementing various embodimentsdisclosed in the disclosure. For example, the communication circuit 400may include the same components as a second communication circuit 132shown in FIG. 6 or may be suitably modified using the components.

According to an embodiment, the components of the communication circuit400 may include a receive path or a transmit path. The receive path maybe a path on which a receive signal is delivered. The receive path maydeliver a receive signal, obtained through an antenna array (e.g., anantenna array 12 of FIG. 3), to a communication module (e.g., acommunication module 112 of FIG. 3). The receive path may convert, forexample, an RF signal into an IF signal. The receive path may convert anIF signal into a baseband signal. A signal obtained through the antennaarray may be an RF band signal.

According to an embodiment, the transmit path may be a path on which atransmit signal is delivered. The transmit path may deliver a signalobtained through an IF circuit to the antenna array. The transmit pathmay convert a baseband signal into an IF signal and/or may convert an IFsignal into an RF signal.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit 400 may supportsignal transmission and reception in a time division duplex (TDD) modeor a frequency division duplex (FDD) mode.

According to an embodiment, the transmit path may include the poweramplifier(s) 410, the power divider 420, or the mixer 430.

According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may amplify atransmit power. The power amplifier(s) 410 may amplify power divided bythe power divider 420.

According to an embodiment, a signal amplified by the power amplifier(s)410 may be emitted to an external space via an antenna array. The poweramplifier(s) 410 may be electrically connected with a plurality ofantennas or a plurality of antenna elements forming the antenna array.According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may be connectedto the same antenna or different antennas.

According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may include atleast one amplifier cell 401 and 402. The one amplifier cell (e.g., theamplifier cell 401) may include at least one power amplifier (e.g., atleast one amplifier 411). According to an embodiment, the differentamplifier cells 401 and 402 may include different amplifiers 411 and412, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the one amplifier cell (e.g., the amplifiercell 401) may be associated (or connected) with one antenna element. Forexample, the at least one power amplifier 411 included in the oneamplifier cell (e.g., the amplifier cell 401) may amplify a signaltransmitted via one antenna element.

According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may be anamplifier of a fixed voltage type.

According to an embodiment, an amplification characteristic (e.g., apower gain) of the power amplifier(s) 410 may be controlled by a controlsignal. According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may becontrolled by a processor. The processor may be, for example, a CP or anAP. According to an embodiment, the control signal may include aquiescent current, a bias voltage, or a parameter associated with adrive amplifier.

According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may beoperatively or electrically connected to a drive amplifier.

According to an embodiment, the power amplifier(s) 410 may be locatedbetween an antenna and the power divider 420. The power amplifier(s) 410may amplify a power of a divided signal.

According to an embodiment, the power divider 420 may divide an inputpower among the plurality of power amplifier(s) 410. Alternatively, thepower divider 420 may divide an input power between an antenna and anantenna element at a constant rate. According to an embodiment, thepower divider 420 may divide an input power of an output transmit signalamong the power amplifier(s) 410. According to an embodiment, the powerdivider 420 may divide an input power at a constant rate between theamplifier cell(s) 401 and 402.

According to an embodiment, the mixer 430 may up-convert a frequencyband. The mixer 430 may convert a transmit signal from an IF signal toan RF signal. The mixer 430 may be referred to as, for example, anup-converter. According to an embodiment, a transmit signal and a localoscillator (LO) signal may be input to the mixer 430, and the transmitsignal may be converted into an RF signal based on calculation with theLO signal.

According to an embodiment, the receive path may include the low noiseamplifiers (LNAs) 440, the power combiner 450, or the mixer 460. Inaddition, the components of the receive path may cover variousmodifications.

According to an embodiment, the LNA(s) 440 may amplify a signal obtainedfrom an antenna array. The LNA(s) 440 may be located close to an antennaarray to reduce signal attenuation on a line. According to anembodiment, the LNA(s) 440 may be located between the power combiner 450and the antenna array. The LNA(s) 440 may be located for each antennaarray.

According to an embodiment, the power combiner 450 may output aplurality of input signals through a single output end. According to anembodiment, receive signals output from the LNA(s) 440 may be combinedby the power combiner 450. The power combiner 450 may be referred to as,for example, a power coupler.

According to an embodiment, the mixer 460 may convert a receive signalfrom an RF signal to an IF signal. The mixer 460 may down-convert afrequency of a receive signal, so it may be referred to as adown-converter. According to an embodiment, the mixer 460 may combine anLO signal with an RF signal to generate an IF signal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of acommunication circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, a communication circuit 500 (e.g., a secondcommunication circuit 132 of FIG. 3) may further include phaseshifter(s) 413 and 414 or a coupler 470. Some of the components of thecommunication circuit 500 of FIG. 5 may be the same or similar tocomponents of a communication circuit 400 of FIG. 4. For example, poweramplifier(s) 410 and a power divider 420 may be the same or similar topower amplifier(s) 410 and a power divider 420 of FIG. 4, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the phase shifter(s) 413 and 414 may shift aphase of a transmit signal. For another example, the phase shifter(s)413 and 414 may shift a phase of a transmit power.

According to an embodiment, the phase shifter(s) 413 and 414 may belocated between the power amplifier(s) 410 and the power divider 420.According to an embodiment, the phase shifter(s) 413 and 414 may shift aphase of a signal output from the power divider 420.

According to an embodiment, each of amplifier cells 401 and 402 mayinclude at least one phase shifter(s) 413 and 414. For example, the oneamplifier cell 401 may include the at least one phase shifter 413, andthe other amplifier cell 402 may include the at least one phase shifter414. The phase shifter 413 may shift a phase of a signal transmitted viathe amplifier cell 401 or an antenna element.

According to an embodiment, phase(s) of the phase shifter(s) 413 and 414may be controlled by a control signal. According to an embodiment, thephase shifter(s) 413 and 414 may be controlled by a processor. Theprocessor may be a CP or an AP. For example, the control signal mayinclude a parameter associated with a phase. The phase shifter(s) 413and 414 may adjust a phase of a signal based on the parameter associatedwith the phase.

According to an embodiment, the communication circuit 500 may operate asa feedback receiver (FBRX). For example, the communication circuit 500may include the coupler 470.

According to an embodiment, the coupler 470 may deliver at least a partof a transmit signal delivered on a transmit path to a cellular modem(e.g., a communication modem 112 of FIG. 3).

According to an embodiment, the coupler 470 may be located between thepower divider and the mixer 430. According to an embodiment, a firstelectronic device (e.g., a first electronic device 100 of FIG. 2) mayobtain a transmit power delivered on the entire transmit path before thetransmit power is input to the power divider 420 via the coupler 470.Such a transmit power may be referred to as a feedback power (or an FBRXvalue) below.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of acommunication circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, a communication device 600 (e.g., a communicationdevice 131 of FIG. 3) may include a second communication circuit 132(e.g., a second communication circuit 132 of FIG. 3 or an RFIC), frontend module(s) (FEM(s)) 133, and antenna element(s) 601 and 602.

According to an embodiment, the second communication circuit 132 mayinclude a receive path and a transmit path. According to an embodiment,the receive path may include LNAs 612 and 622, phase shifters 614 and624, receiver drive amplifiers 616 and 626, a power combiner 650, or amixer 660. According to an embodiment, the transmit path may includepower amplifiers 632 and 642, pre-power amplifiers 634 and 644, phaseshifters 636 and 646, pre-phase shifter drive amplifiers 638 and 648, apower divider 652, a coupler 656, and/or a mixer 658.

According to an embodiment, the second communication circuit 132 mayinclude a plurality of receive cells and a plurality of transmit cells(or amplifier cells). The receive cells and the transmit cells may beconnected to the power combiner 650 and the power divider 652. Accordingto an embodiment, a transmit signal output from the coupler 656 may bedelivered to transmit cells via the power divider 652, and at least apart of the transmit signal may be fed back.

According to an embodiment, the power combiner 650 and/or the powerdivider 652 may be, for example, a 2-way power combiner and/or a 2-waypower divider, a 4-way power combiner and/or a 4-way power divider, an8-way power combiner and/or an 8-way power divider, or a 16-way powercombiner and/or a 16-way power divider.

According to an embodiment, at least a part of a transmit signal outputfrom the coupler 656 may be coupled to be delivered to the receive path.The transmit signal may be a signal converted by the mixer 658.

According to an embodiment, a switch 654 may be connected to the powercombiner 650. According to an embodiment, the switch 654 may beconnected in the direction of the coupler 656 or the power combiner 650.The switch 654 may deliver one of a receive signal or a feedback signaloutput from the coupler 656 to a communication module (e.g., acommunication module 112 of FIG. 3) or an IF circuit (e.g., a firstcommunication circuit 134 of FIG. 3).

According to an embodiment, a signal output from the switch 654 may beconverted into an IF signal by the mixer 660. In this case, an LO signalmay be input to the mixer 660. A signal output from the mixer 660 may beoutput through a receive port, via a balun 662.

According to an embodiment, the communication device 600 may input andoutput a signal through its one external port. For example, a transmitsignal and/or a receive signal (e.g., an IF signal), a signal forfrequency comparison of a voltage controller oscillator (VCO)(hereinafter referred to as “VCO signal”), and a control signal may beinput and output through the one port. According to an embodiment, acombination of a diplexer 664 and a duplexer 666 or a triplexer may beapplied to an input end of a transmit signal in the communication device600. Under such a structure, the signals may be input and output fromthe communication device 600 through the one port. In FIG. 6, anembodiment is exemplified as the communication device 600 includes thediplexer 664 and the duplexer 666. However, embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, the communication device 600 may include atriplexer.

According to an embodiment, the transmit path may include the diplexer664 and the duplexer 666. The duplexer 666 may output a VCO signal and acontrol signal. According to an embodiment, the diplexer 664 may obtaina transmit signal through a transmit port and may divide the transmitsignal into a VCO signal and a control signal. According to anembodiment, the control signal may be to control a phase shifter (e.g.,the phase shifter 636) or power amplifier(s) (e.g., the power amplifier632). For example, the control signal may include a control signal forcontrolling parameters associated with a phase shifter (e.g., the phaseshifter 636) or power amplifier(s) (e.g., the power amplifier 632). Theparameters may be referred to as parameters associated with power.

According to an embodiment, the second communication circuit 132 mayfurther include a bandgap voltage reference 668, a temperature sensor670, a power management integrated circuit/low dropout regulator(PMIC/LDO) 672, and a serial peripheral interface (SPI)/look up library674. According to an embodiment, the diplexer 666 may be electricallyconnected with the SIP/look up library 674.

According to an embodiment, the FEM(s) 133 may be at least one module inthe previous stage of the second communication circuit 132. The FEM(s)133 may deliver signals, output from the second communication circuit132, to the corresponding antennal element(s) 601 and 602. According toan embodiment, the FEM(s) 133 may include a switch or the like.

According to an embodiment, the second communication circuit 132 and theFEM(s) 133 may be included in the communication device 600 (e.g., thecommunication device 131 of FIG. 3). In FIG. 6, an embodiment isexemplified as the FEM(s) 133 may be implemented independently of thesecond communication circuit 132. However, embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, the FEM(s) 133 may be integrally implemented withthe second communication circuit 132.

According to an embodiment, the antenna element(s) 601 and 602 maytransmit and receive an mmWave band signal with an external device. Theantenna element(s) 601 and 602 may form, for example, at least a part ofan antenna array. The antenna element(s) 601 and 602 may be used as atransmit antenna and/or a receive antenna. The FEM(s) 133 may include aswitch to change a transmission and reception purpose. According to anembodiment, the antenna element(s) 601 and 602 may be included in anantenna array (e.g., an antenna array 12 of FIG. 3) or may beimplemented as an antenna array.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual flowchart illustrating calibration associatedwith a communication circuit according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Operations shown in FIG. 7 may be performed by a first electronic device100 and/or a second electronic device 200 shown in FIG. 1. Theoperations may be implemented with, for example, instructions capable ofbeing performed (or executed) by a processor 110 of the first electronicdevice 100 or a processor 210 of the second electronic device 200. Theinstructions may be stored in, for example, a computer storage medium ora memory 120 or 220 shown in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, for convenience ofdescription, the operations of FIG. 2 are described as being performedby an electronic device. However, it may be seen that such operationsmay be performed by a first electronic device and/or a second electronicdevice.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 702, the electronic device mayselectively calibrate power amplifier(s) (e.g., power amplifier(s) ofFIG. 4). The electronic device may calibrate power gains of poweramplifiers to be the same or similar to each other. According to anembodiment, the electronic device may calibrate transmit powers outputthrough power amplifiers to be the same or similar to each other, withrespect to the same input power.

In operation 704, the electronic device may correct amplifier cells. Ina state where the power gains of the power amplifiers are changed inoperation 702, the electronic device may change a phase of a signal toefficiently transmit a power of a signal output through all the poweramplifiers. For example, the electronic device may change the phase in astate where saturation level characteristics of amplifier cells areidentical to each other.

In operation 706, the electronic device may calibrate one amplifiercell. The electronic device may estimate a transmit power value forvarious input powers based on a transmit power measured in a linearregion, using a linear characteristic of an amplifier.

An order of the operations shown in FIG. 7 may be the operations may bemodified according to various embodiments. For example, operation 704may be performed concurrently with operation 706, or operation 706 maybe first performed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation of selectivelycalibrating a power amplifier according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Operations shown in FIG. 8 may be performed by a first electronic device100 and/or a second electronic device 200 shown in FIG. 1. Theoperations may be implemented with, for example, instructions capable ofbeing performed (or executed) by a processor 110 of the first electronicdevice 100 or a processor 210 of the second electronic device 200. Theinstructions may be stored in, for example, a computer storage medium ora memory 120 or 220 shown in FIG. 2.

An embodiment below is exemplified as one amplifier cell includes onepower amplifier. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Forexample, the embodiment below may be applied when an amplifier cellincludes a plurality of power amplifiers. In a description below, apower amplifier may correspond to an amplifier cell.

According to an embodiment, a first electronic device may transmit asignal amplified by a specified power amplifier among a plurality ofpower amplifiers, via an antenna (or an antenna element), may obtain atransmit power of a signal transmitted from an antenna (or an antennaelement) connected to the specified power amplifier among the pluralityof power amplifiers, and may change power gains of the other poweramplifiers except for the specified power amplifier based on thetransmit power.

For example, assuming that there are a first power amplifier and asecond power amplifier, the first electronic device may transmit a firstsignal via an antenna element connected to the first power amplifier andmay transmit a second signal via an antenna element connected to thesecond power amplifier. The first electronic device may obtain a lowertransmit power between a transmit power of the first signal or atransmit power of the second signal and may change a power gain of apower amplifier based on the lower transmit power. Hereinafter, adescription will be given of operations of electronic devices accordingto the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, in operation 802, the first electronic device mayinitially configure a plurality of power amplifiers. The firstelectronic device may store an initial configuration value in a memory(e.g., a memory 120 of FIG. 2). For example, the memory may include anonvolatile memory. The initial configuration value may be stored in thenonvolatile memory. The first electronic device may configure theplurality of power amplifiers with the initial configuration value. Forexample, when the first electronic device includes 16 power amplifiers,it may apply the initial configuration value to each of the 16 poweramplifiers. The initial configuration value may be a value known in thesecond electronic device.

In operation 804, the first electronic device may obtain a transmitpower corresponding to a signal transmitted from the plurality of poweramplifiers with respect to a specified input power. Hereinafter, theobtained transmit power may be referred to as a transmit powerassociated with the power amplifier.

According to an embodiment, the specified input power may be a powervalue determined by a communication module (e.g., a communication module112 of FIG. 3) (or a processor).

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may transmit asignal in an OTA manner through an antenna (or an antenna element)connected to the power amplifiers. According to an embodiment, the firstelectronic device may transmit a signal sequentially for each of theplurality of power amplifiers. To this end, the first electronic devicemay turn off other power amplifiers while transmitting a signal via anyone of power amplifiers. The first electronic device may transmit asignal via any one of power amplifiers and may turn on another poweramplifier.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may obtainmeasurement information corresponding to the signals from the secondelectronic device. According to an embodiment, the first electronicdevice may obtain a transmit power associated for each power amplifier.For another example, the first electronic device may obtain a transmitpower associated with some of the plurality of power amplifiers from thesecond electronic device.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may obtain atransmit power associated with the plurality of power amplifiers withrespect to a specified input power. For example, the transmit powerassociated with the specified power amplifier may be a transmit powerwhich is amplified by the specified power amplifier and is measured by asignal transmitted through an antenna (or an antenna element) connectedto the power amplifier. For example, when there are 16 power amplifiers,in a manner to obtain a transmit power associated with one poweramplifier and obtain a transmit power associated with another poweramplifier, the first electronic device may obtain transmit powersassociated with the plurality of power amplifiers. The transmit powersmay be transmit powers measured for the same (or fixed) input power.

According to an embodiment, operation 804 may be performed in a linearregion. The power amplifier may operate in a linear region or asaturation region. The transmit power in operation 804 may be a valuemeasured in a linear region of a power amplifier. According to anembodiment, to prevent the result of operation 804 from being obtainedin a saturation state, when the transmit power is identical upon initialmeasurement, the first electronic device may reduce an input power andmay perform operation 804 again.

In operation 806, the first electronic device may determine whether thetransmit powers meet a specific condition. According to an embodiment,the first electronic device may verify whether the transmit powersassociated with the plurality of power amplifiers are within the same(or similar) range. For example, the first electronic device may verifywhether the transmit powers are within the same or similar range basedon a deviation between the transmit powers. For example, the firstelectronic device may arrange transmit power values and may verifywhether a deviation of a first transmit power value is less than orequal to (or less than) a specified threshold.

When the transmit powers are not within the same or similar range, inoperation 808, the first electronic device may calibrate the poweramplifiers. According to an embodiment, the first electronic device maycontrol the power amplifiers such that the transmit powers are withinthe same or similar range to the specified input power. For example, thefirst electronic device may control the power amplifiers such that powergains of the power amplifiers are within a constant range. To this end,the first electronic device may change a parameter value associated withpower (e.g., a parameter value associated with a power gain). Theparameter associated with the power may include a quiescent current, abias voltage, and/or a parameter associated with a drive amplifier.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may obtain thelowest transmit power value among the plurality of obtained transmitpower values to calibrate the power amplifiers. The first electronicdevice may calibrate the power amplifiers such that the power amplifiershave power gains within the same or similar range based on the lowesttransmit power value. In this case, the first electronic device maycalibrate other power amplifiers rather than a power amplifierassociated with the lowest transmit power value.

After calibrating the power amplifiers, the first electronic device mayperform the operation again from operation 804. The first electronicdevice may calibrate the power amplifiers until transmit powers for thespecified input power are within the same or similar range.

When the transmit powers associated with the plurality of poweramplifiers are within the same or similar range, in operation 810, thefirst electronic device may store a calibration value. The firstelectronic device may store a calibrated value of a parameter associatedwith power. For example, the first electronic device may store aquiescent current, a bias voltage, or a parameter value associated withthe drive power amplifier when the transmit powers meet the specifiedcondition in operation 806.

An entity which performs the operations shown in FIG. 8 may covervarious modifications According to an embodiment, at least some of theoperations may be performed by the second electronic device. Forexample, operations 804 and 806 may be performed by the secondelectronic device. The second electronic device may determine whetherthe transmit powers meet the specified condition in operation 806. Whenthe transmit powers do not meet the specified condition, the secondelectronic device may control the first electronic device to calibratethe power amplifiers. In this case, the second electronic device maytransmit the lowest transmit power and/or an offset value betweentransmit powers to the first electronic device. The second electronicdevice may transmit control information for allowing the firstelectronic device to calibrate the power amplifiers to the firstelectronic device. When the transmit powers meet the specified conditionin operation 806, the second electronic device may control the firstelectronic device to perform operation 810.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a saturation characteristic of a poweramplifier according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, power amplifier(s) (e.g., power amplifier(s) 412 ofFIG. 4) of a first electronic device (e.g., a first electronic device100 of FIG. 1) may operate in a linear region 901 or a saturation region902. The linear region 901 may be an interval where a transmit power ofa power amplifier increases in proportion to an input power. Thesaturation region 902 may be an interval where a transmit power does notincrease even though an input power is increased.

A saturation power Psat may indicate a transmit power (or an outputpower of a power amplifier) in a saturation state where power does notincrease anymore although an input power does increase. P1 dB mayindicate a transmit power at a point where a theoretical transmit powerand a real transmit power have a difference of 1 dB.

According to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, although power gains ofpower amplifiers are identical to each other, saturation levelcharacteristics of the power amplifiers may be different from eachother, resulting in an inaccurate calibration result. According to anembodiment, the first electronic device (e.g., the first electronicdevice 100 of FIG. 1) may adjust saturation level characteristics ofpower amplifiers, or a second electronic device (e.g., a secondelectronic device 200 of FIG. 2) may control the first electronic deviceto adjust saturation level characteristics of power amplifiers.

According to an embodiment, to verify whether power amplifiers mayefficiently transmit their transmit powers, the first electronic deviceor the second electronic device may verify whether a transmit power whenturning on only one power amplifier (or one amplifier cell) is identicalto a transmit power when turning on all power amplifiers (or allamplifier cells). For another example, as shown in FIG. 9, whenincreasing an input power by a constant level (e.g., 12 dB) with respectto all power amplifiers, the first electronic device or the secondelectronic device may verify whether the entire output (or the entire P1dB or the entire saturation power P sat) increases by the correspondinglevel.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts illustrating a power amplifier cellcorrection operation of an electronic device according to variousembodiments of the disclosure.

Operations shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 may be performed by a firstelectronic device 100 and/or a second electronic device 200 shown inFIG. 1. The operations may be implemented with, for example,instructions capable of being performed (or executed) by a processor 110of the first electronic device 100 or a processor 210 of the secondelectronic device 200. The instructions may be stored in, for example, acomputer storage medium or a memory 120 or 220 shown in FIG. 2.

An embodiment below is exemplified as one amplifier cell includes onepower amplifier. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Forexample, the embodiment below may be applied when an amplifier cellincludes a plurality of power amplifiers. In a description below, apower amplifier may correspond to an amplifier cell.

According to an embodiment, a first electronic device may perform phasecalibration to increase a transmit power in a state where a power gainis changed. For example, to efficiently calibrate a phase, the firstelectronic device may first adjust saturation level characteristics ofpower amplifiers.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may matchsaturation level characteristics and may verify whether the saturationlevel characteristics are identical to each other. Through theoperations of FIG. 10, the first electronic device may obtain an FBRXvalue in which the saturation level characteristics are identical toeach other. Through the operations of FIG. 11, the first electronicdevice may increase power efficiency through phase calibration.

For example, assuming that there are a first power amplifier and asecond power amplifier, the first electronic device may adjustsaturation level characteristics of the first power amplifier and thesecond power amplifier and may perform phase calibration based on atransmit power associated with both the first power amplifier and thesecond power amplifier in the state where the saturation levelcharacteristics are adjusted.

Referring to FIG. 10, in operation 1002, the first electronic device mayselect a reference power amplifier. The first electronic device mayselect any reference power amplifier. The reference power amplifier maybe an amplifier which is a criterion of an FBRX value.

In operation 1004, the first electronic device may obtain an FBRX valueat a P1 dB point with respect to the selected reference power amplifier.The first electronic device may obtain the FBRX value through a coupler(e.g., a coupler 470 of FIG. 5). For example, the first electronicdevice may obtain an FBRX value based on a feedback signal received fromthe coupler.

In operation 1006, the first electronic device may obtain transmitpowers associated with a plurality of power amplifiers with respect tothe obtained FBRX value. The first electronic device may independentlyobtain transmit powers associated with the plurality of power amplifierswhen having the same FBRX value. For example, while the first electronicdevice turns on one power amplifier and turns off the other poweramplifiers, it may obtain a transmit power in each power amplifier.

In operation 1008, the first electronic device may determine whether adeviation between the transmit powers meets a specified condition.According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may verifywhether the deviation between the transmit powers is within the same orsimilar range. The first electronic device may verify whether thetransmit powers are within a constant range. The first electronic devicemay obtain a deviation of transmit powers and may verify whether thedeviation meets a specified threshold.

For example, when the transmit powers are the same or similar to eachother, the first electronic device may regard saturation levelcharacteristics of the power amplifiers as being identical to each otherand may perform operation A.

For example, when the transmit powers are not the same or similar toeach other, the first electronic device may obtain an FBRX again withrespect to a power amplifier which first reaches a saturation state in astate where power gains are identical to each other. In operation 1010,the first electronic device may change the reference power amplifier.For example, the first electronic device may select a power amplifierwith the lowest transmit power as the reference power amplifier. Thefirst electronic device may change the reference power amplifier and mayperform the operation again from operation 1004.

At least some of the operations shown in FIG. 10 may be performed by thesecond electronic device. For example, the second electronic device mayperform operation 1006 and may verify whether the condition is met inoperation 1008. When the condition is not met, the second electronicdevice may control the first electronic device to perform operation1010. In this case, the second electronic device may notify the firstelectronic device of the lowest transmit power. For example, when thecondition is met, the second electronic device may control the firstelectronic device to perform operations from operation A.

FIG. 11 illustrates operations from operation A of FIG. 10 according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, a first electronic device or a second electronicdevice may perform phase compensation to increase transmit powersassociated with all of power amplifiers in a state where saturationlevel characteristics are identical to each other.

In operation 1102, the first electronic device may obtain transmitpowers associated with all of a plurality of power amplifiers. The firstelectronic device may obtain all of transmit powers output via anantenna in a state where the plurality of power amplifiers are turnedon. The first electronic device may obtain measurement information fromthe second electronic device.

In operation 1104, the first electronic device may determine whether allthe transmit powers meet a specified condition. According to anembodiment, the first electronic device may verify whether all thetransmit powers are within a specified range. The specified range may bea range associated with an input power or the sum of transmit powersassociated with power amplifiers. For example, the first electronicdevice may verify whether an input power and a transmit power are withina specified range with respect to the input (or the transmit power). Foranother example, the first electronic device may verify whether adeviation between an input power and a transmit power is within aspecified threshold.

When all the transmit powers are not within the specified range, inoperation 1106, the first electronic device may perform phasecompensation. The first electronic device may change a parameter valueassociated with a phase. The parameter value associated with the phasemay be a value applied to a phase shifter (e.g., phase shifters 413 and414 of FIG. 5).

When all the transmit powers are within the specified range, inoperation 1108, the first electronic device may verify saturation levelsin the plurality of power amplifiers. For example, the first electronicdevice may turn on all the power amplifiers and may add an additionalpower (e.g., 12 dB) to the input power used in operation 1102. Inresponse to a change in the input power, the first electronic device mayverify whether the transmit powers associated with the plurality ofpower amplifiers increase by a value (e.g., 12 dB) corresponding to theadditional power. According to an embodiment, the number of the firstpower amplifiers may cover various modifications. The additional powermay cover various modifications according to the number of poweramplifiers. The first electronic device may verify a saturation leveland may store a parameter value associated with the phase. For example,the parameter value associated with the phase may be stored in anonvolatile memory.

At least some of the operations shown in FIG. 11 may be performed by thesecond electronic device. For example, the second electronic device mayperform operation 1102. In operation 1104, the second electronic devicemay determine whether the condition is met. For example, when thecondition is not met, the second electronic device may control the firstelectronic device to perform operation 1106. For example, when thecondition is met, the second electronic device may control the firstelectronic device to verify the saturation level. For another example,after verifying the saturation level, the second electronic device maycontrol the first electronic device to store a parameter valueassociated with the phase.

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating a phase compensation method accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12, an embodiment is exemplified as the number ofantenna elements is 2×2 (4), 3×1 (3), or 4×4 (16). However, embodimentsare not limited thereto. For example, the number of antenna elementsaccording to various embodiments disclosed in the disclosure may covervarious modifications. According to an embodiment, each antenna elementmay be connected with one power amplifier. In a description below, anoperation of compensating a phase of an antenna element may beunderstood as compensating a phase of a signal output via a poweramplifier. According to an embodiment, the phase may vary with a phaseshifter (e.g., a phase shifter 413 or 414 of FIG. 5). According to anembodiment, each element may be electrically connected to one phaseshifter.

According to an embodiment, a first electronic device (e.g., firstelectronic device 100 of FIG. 2) may group (or partition) an antennaelement into several groups and may perform phase compensation for eachgroup. When groups are classified, a plurality of groups may share thesame antenna element.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may set a groupevery (x, y) coordinates. For example, x denotes the number of antennaelements in a vertical direction, and y denotes the number of antennaelements in a horizontal direction. Referring to FIG. 12, unit (2, 1)may include two antenna elements of a column and one antenna element ofa row.

According to an embodiment, unit (2, 1) or (1, 2) may be a most basicunit of phase compensation. The first electronic device may performphase compensation for two antenna elements. While fixing one antennaelement and shifting a phase of the other antenna element, the firstelectronic device may perform an operation of verifying whether theentire transmit power is within a specified range with respect to thesame input power. The specified range may be a range wheredirectionality of the first electronic device becomes better. Foranother example, the specified range may correspond to a start pointwhere a transmit power does not increase anymore to set a phase. Atransmit power may decrease or may not increase anymore based on a phasechange. That a transmit power does not increase anymore may be regardedas a phase is not synchronized, so the phase may be adjacent to a phasewhere a transmit power does not increase anymore.

Hereinafter, an embodiment is exemplified as phase compensation when anarray of the electronic device is (1) 2×2, (2) 3×1, and (3) 4×4.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may performphase compensation for group (2, 1) and may perform phase compensationfor group (1, 2). In this case, group (2, 1) and group (1, 2) may sharean antenna element, phase compensation of which is already performed.Upon phase compensation for group (1, 2), an antenna element shared withgroup (2, 1) may be a criterion of phase compensation. Thereafter, thefirst electronic device may perform phase compensation for group (2, 2).While fixing a phase of an antenna element included in groups (1, 2) and(2, 1) and changing phases of the other antenna elements, the firstelectronic device may perform phase compensation.

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may performphase compensation for group (2, 1) and may perform phase compensationfor group (3, 1). Group (3, 1) may include group (2, 1). While changingphases of power amplifiers which are not included in group (2, 1) ingroup (3, 1), the first electronic device may perform phasecompensation.

According to an embodiment, in case of (3), as shown in FIG. 12, thefirst electronic device may divide group (2, 2) into 4 groups. The firstelectronic device may perform the same operation as (1) for each of the4 groups. In this case, the first electronic device may first or secondperform phase compensation for a group which shares two or more antennaelements with other groups.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating an amplification characteristic in alinear region and a saturation region of a power amplifier according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 13, a transmit power output via a power amplifier mayhave a characteristic which linearly increases according to an increasein input power in linear regions 1301, 1303, and 1305 and may have acharacteristic which does not increase anymore although an input powerincreases in saturation regions 1302, 1304, and 1306.

According to an embodiment, the power amplifier may operate severaloperation modes (e.g., PA mode #1, #2, and #3 of FIG. 13). The poweramplifier may have a different characteristic for each operation mode.For example, the power amplifier may have different power gains ordifferent saturation levels based on an operation mode. In this case,the linear regions 1301, 1303, and 1305 and the saturation regions 1302,1304, and 1306 may vary with an operation mode of the power amplifier.

According to an embodiment, when controlling an operation characteristicof a power amplifier based on operations in FIGS. 8 to 12, a firstelectronic device (e.g., a first electronic device 100 of FIG. 1) mayestimate a transmit power for an input power of the power amplifier. Thefirst electronic device may estimate a transmit power for various inputpowers. For example, the first electronic device may obtain a necessaryinput power, transmit power, and/or FBRX value by an estimation mannerrather than direct measurement.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation where an electronicdevice estimates transmit power, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Operations shown in FIG. 14 may be performed by a first electronicdevice 100 shown in FIG. 1. The operations may be implemented with, forexample, instructions capable of being performed (or executed) by aprocessor 110 of the first electronic device 100. The instructions maybe stored in, for example, a computer storage medium or the firstelectronic device 100 shown in FIG. 1.

According to an embodiment, a first electronic device may obtaintransmit power measurement information in a plurality of input powers ona linear region and may estimate transmit powers in the other inputpowers based on a measured transmit power.

In operations below, the first electronic device may be in a state wherecompensation for a characteristic of a transmit power is performedaccording to operations described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12.

Referring to FIG. 14, in operation 1402, the first electronic device mayselect one power amplifier. According to an embodiment, the firstelectronic device may randomly select the one power amplifier.

In operation 1404, the first electronic device may configure theselected power amplifier using a parameter value associated with powerobtained in FIGS. 8 to 12. For example, the parameter value associatedwith the power may include at least one of a quiescent current, a biasvoltage, a parameter value associated with a drive amplifier, or a phasevalue.

In operation 1406, the first electronic device may obtain transmitpowers for a plurality of input powers in a linear region of a poweramplifier. For example, the plurality of input powers may be two inputpowers. The transmit power may be a value measured by an external device(e.g., a measurement device 300 of FIG. 1). The first electronic devicemay transmit a signal in a linear region and may obtain the transmitpowers for the plurality of input powers. In this case, the firstelectronic device may obtain an FBRX value for the plurality of inputpowers.

In operation 1408, the first electronic device may estimate a transmitpower for another input power. According to an embodiment, the otherinput power may be a value between the plurality of input power values.The first electronic device may calibrate (or estimate) power usinginternal calibration (IC). The first electronic device may perform ICusing an FBRX. For example, the first electronic device may use an FBRXvalue obtained through a coupler (e.g., a coupler 470 of FIG. 5).

According to an embodiment, the first electronic device may store valuesused for amplifier calibration in a memory (e.g., a memory 120 of FIG.2). The memory may be, for example, a nonvolatile memory.

The information stored in the memory may include at least one of aparameter value associated with the power, an input power, a measuredtransmit power value, an estimated transmit power value, or an FBRXvalue. The first electronic device may use the information stored in thememory when transmitting or receiving a real signal.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device 1501 in anetwork environment 1500 according to various embodiments of thedisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 15, the electronic device 1501 in the networkenvironment 1500 may communicate with an electronic device 1502 via afirst network 1598 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network),or an electronic device 1504 or a server 1508 via a second network 1599(e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to anembodiment, the electronic device 1501 may communicate with theelectronic device 1504 via the server 1508. According to an embodiment,the electronic device 1501 may include a processor 1520, memory 1530, aninput device 1550, a sound output device 1555, a display device 1560, anaudio module 1570, a sensor module 1576, an interface 1577, a hapticmodule 1579, a camera module 1580, a power management module 1588, abattery 1589, a communication module 1590, a subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) 1596, or an antenna module 1597. In some embodiments, atleast one (e.g., the display device 1560 or the camera module 1580) ofthe components may be omitted from the electronic device 1501, or one ormore other components may be added in the electronic device 1501. Insome embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as singleintegrated circuitry. For example, the sensor module 1576 (e.g., afingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may beimplemented as embedded in the display device 1560 (e.g., a display).

The processor 1520 may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program1540) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware orsoftware component) of the electronic device 1501 coupled with theprocessor 1520, and may perform various data processing or computation.According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing orcomputation, the processor 1520 may load a command or data received fromanother component (e.g., the sensor module 1576 or the communicationmodule 1590) in volatile memory 1532, process the command or the datastored in the volatile memory 1532, and store resulting data innon-volatile memory 1534. According to an embodiment, the processor 1520may include a main processor 1521 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)or an AP), and an auxiliary processor 1523 (e.g., a graphics processingunit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, ora CP) that is operable independently from, or in conjunction with, themain processor 1521. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliaryprocessor 1523 may be adapted to consume less power than the mainprocessor 1521, or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliaryprocessor 1523 may be implemented as separate from, or as part of themain processor 1521.

The auxiliary processor 1523 may control at least some of functions orstates related to at least one component (e.g., the display device 1560,the sensor module 1576, or the communication module 1590) among thecomponents of the electronic device 1501, instead of the main processor1521 while the main processor 1521 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep)state, or together with the main processor 1521 while the main processor1521 is in an active state (e.g., executing an application). Accordingto an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 1523 (e.g., an ISP or a CP)may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module1580 or the communication module 1590) functionally related to theauxiliary processor 1523.

The memory 1530 may store various data used by at least one component(e.g., the processor 1520 or the sensor module 1576) of the electronicdevice 1501. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g.,the program 1540) and input data or output data for a command relatedthereto. The memory 1530 may include the volatile memory 1532 or thenon-volatile memory 1534.

The program 1540 may be stored in the memory 1530 as software, and mayinclude, for example, an operating system (OS) 1542, middleware 1544, oran application 1546.

The input device 1550 may receive a command or data to be used byanother component (e.g., the processor 1520) of the electronic device1501, from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 1501. Theinput device 1550 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, or akeyboard.

The sound output device 1555 may output sound signals to the outside ofthe electronic device 1501. The sound output device 1555 may include,for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used forgeneral purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record, and thereceiver may be used for incoming calls. According to an embodiment, thereceiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display device 1560 may visually provide information to the outside(e.g., a user) of the electronic device 1501. The display device 1560may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projectorand control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display,hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the displaydevice 1560 may include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch, orsensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure theintensity of force incurred by the touch.

The audio module 1570 may convert a sound into an electrical signal andvice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 1570 may obtainthe sound via the input device 1550, or output the sound via the soundoutput device 1555 or a headphone of an external electronic device(e.g., an electronic device 1502) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelesslycoupled with the electronic device 1501.

The sensor module 1576 may detect an operational state (e.g., power ortemperature) of the electronic device 1501 or an environmental state(e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device 1501, andthen generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to thedetected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 1576 mayinclude, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmosphericpressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gripsensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, abiometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or anilluminance sensor.

The interface 1577 may support one or more specified protocols to beused for the electronic device 1501 to be coupled with the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 1502) directly (e.g.,wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface 1577may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI),a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) cardinterface, or an audio interface.

A connecting terminal 1578 may include a connector via which theelectronic device 1501 may be physically connected with the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 1502). According to anembodiment, the connecting terminal 1578 may include, for example, aHDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audioconnector (e.g., a headphone connector),

The haptic module 1579 may convert an electrical signal into amechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electricalstimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation orkinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module1579 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or anelectric stimulator.

The camera module 1580 may capture a still image or moving images.According to an embodiment, the camera module 1580 may include one ormore lenses, image sensors, ISPs, or flashes.

The power management module 1588 may manage power supplied to theelectronic device 1501. According to one embodiment, the powermanagement module 1588 may be implemented as at least part of, forexample, a PMIC.

The battery 1589 may supply power to at least one component of theelectronic device 1501. According to an embodiment, the battery 1589 mayinclude, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, asecondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 1590 may support establishing a direct (e.g.,wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel betweenthe electronic device 1501 and the external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 1502, the electronic device 1504, or the server 1508)and performing communication via the established communication channel.The communication module 1590 may include one or more CPs that areoperable independently from the processor 1520 (e.g., the AP) andsupports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wirelesscommunication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 1590may include a wireless communication module 1592 (e.g., a cellularcommunication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or aglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or awired communication module 1594 (e.g., a local area network (LAN)communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). Acorresponding one of these communication modules may communicate withthe external electronic device via the first network 1598 (e.g., ashort-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity(Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the secondnetwork 1599 (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as acellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or widearea network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may beimplemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may beimplemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separate from eachother. The wireless communication module 1592 may identify andauthenticate the electronic device 1501 in a communication network, suchas the first network 1598 or the second network 1599, using subscriberinformation (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI))stored in the SIM 1596.

The antenna module 1597 may transmit or receive a signal or power to orfrom the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of theelectronic device 1501. According to an embodiment, the antenna module1597 may include one or more antennas, and, therefrom, at least oneantenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in the communicationnetwork, such as the first network 1598 or the second network 1599, maybe selected, for example, by the communication module 1590 (e.g., thewireless communication module 1592). The signal or the power may then betransmitted or received between the communication module 1590 and theexternal electronic device via the selected at least one antenna.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutuallyand communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via aninter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purposeinput and output (GPIO), SPI, or mobile industry processor interface(MIPI)).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted orreceived between the electronic device 1501 and the external electronicdevice 1504 via the server 1508 coupled with the second network 1599.Each of the electronic devices 1502 and 1504 may be a device of a sametype as, or a different type, from the electronic device 1501. Accordingto an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at theelectronic device 1501 may be executed at one or more of the externalelectronic devices 1502, 1504, or 1508. For example, if the electronicdevice 1501 should perform a function or a service automatically, or inresponse to a request from a user or another device, the electronicdevice 1501, instead of, or in addition to, executing the function orthe service, may request the one or more external electronic devices toperform at least part of the function or the service. The one or moreexternal electronic devices receiving the request may perform the atleast part of the function or the service requested, or an additionalfunction or an additional service related to the request, and transferan outcome of the performing to the electronic device 1501. Theelectronic device 1501 may provide the outcome, with or without furtherprocessing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request.To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-servercomputing technology may be used, for example.

The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one ofvarious types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include,for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), acomputer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medicaldevice, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According toan embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limitedto those described above.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure andthe terms used therein are not intended to limit the technologicalfeatures set forth herein to particular embodiments and include variouschanges, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment.With regard to the description of the drawings, similar referencenumerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It is tobe understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an itemmay include one or more of the things, unless the relevant contextclearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as “Aor B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, orC,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” mayinclude all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in acorresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, such terms as “1st”and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish acorresponding component from another, and does not limit the componentsin other aspect (e.g., importance or order). It is to be understood thatif an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or withoutthe term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupledto,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a secondelement), it means that the element may be coupled with the otherelement directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

As used herein, the term “module” may include a unit implemented inhardware, software, or firmware, and may interchangeably be used withother terms, for example, “logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or“circuitry”. A module may be a single integral component, or a minimumunit or part thereof, adapted to perform one or more functions. Forexample, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in aform of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software(e.g., the program 1540) including one or more instructions that arestored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory 1536 or externalmemory 1538) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device1501). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor 1520) of themachine (e.g., the electronic device 1501) may invoke at least one ofthe one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and executeit, with or without using one or more other components under the controlof the processor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform atleast one function according to the at least one instruction invoked.The one or more instructions may include a code generated by a complieror a code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storagemedium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium.Wherein, the term “non-transitory” simply means that the storage mediumis a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., anelectromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate betweenwhere data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and wherethe data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments ofthe disclosure may be included and provided in a computer programproduct. The computer program product may be traded as a product betweena seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed inthe form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc readonly memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded)online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™), or between two userdevices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at leastpart of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or atleast temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such asmemory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store,or a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or aprogram) of the above-described components may include a single entityor multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more ofthe above-described components may be omitted, or one or more othercomponents may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality ofcomponents (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a singlecomponent. In such a case, according to various embodiments, theintegrated component may still perform one or more functions of each ofthe plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they areperformed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components beforethe integration. According to various embodiments, operations performedby the module, the program, or another component may be carried outsequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or moreof the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, orone or more other operations may be added.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference tovarious embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: an antennaarray comprising a first antenna element and a second antenna element; acommunication circuit comprising a first power amplifier connected tothe first antenna element and a second power amplifier connected to thesecond antenna element; a processor operatively connected to thecommunication circuit; and a memory operatively connected to theprocessor and stores instructions, when executed, cause the processorto: output a first signal through the first antenna element with a firstgain of the first power amplifier, output a second signal through thesecond antenna element with a second gain of the second power amplifier,and change the second gain of the second power amplifier based on adifference between a first transmit power corresponding to the firstsignal and a second transmit power corresponding to the second signal.2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the processor to change the second gain when differenceis greater than a threshold.
 3. The electronic device of claim 2,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to changethe second gain based on the first transmit power when difference isgreater than the threshold.
 4. The electronic device of claim 3, whereinthe instructions, when executed, cause the processor to change thesecond gain by changing at least one of a quiescent current or a biasvoltage of the second power amplifier.
 5. The electronic device of claim3, wherein the first transmit power is less than the second transmitpower.
 6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions,when executed, cause the processor to: obtain the first transmit powerwhile the first power amplifier operates in a linear input-output state,and obtain the second transmit power while the second power amplifieroperates in the linear input-output state.
 7. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor toturn-off the first power amplifier while outputting the second signal.8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitfurther comprises a first phase shifter electrically connected to thefirst antenna element and a second phase shifter electrically connectedto the second antenna element, and wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the processor to change a parameter associated with atleast one of the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter afterchanging the second gain.
 9. The electronic device of claim 8, whereinthe instructions, when executed, cause the processor to: transmit athird signal through the antenna array after changing the second gain,and change a parameter associated with at least one of the first phaseshifter and the second phase shifter based on a third transmit power ofthe third signal.
 10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the processor to change the parameterwhen difference between an input power for the third signal and thethird transmit power is greater than a threshold.
 11. The electronicdevice of claim 10, wherein the communication circuit further comprisesa coupler configured to feedback at least a part of third signal, andwherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to: obtaina first feedback power corresponding to a 1 dB compression point (P1 dB)of the first power amplifier through the coupler, and obtain a secondfeedback power corresponding to a P1 dB of the second power amplifier.12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the input power of thethird signal corresponds to the first feedback power or the secondfeedback power.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions, when executed by a processor of an electronic device,causing the processor to: output a first signal through a first antennaelement of an antenna array of the electronic device by applying a firstgain to a first power amplifier connected to the first antenna element;output a second signal through a second antenna element of the antennaarray by applying a second gain to a second power amplifier connected tothe second antenna element; and change the second gain of the secondpower amplifier based on a difference between a first transmit powercorresponding to the first signal and a second transmit powercorresponding to the second signal.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the processor to change the second gain when differenceis greater than a threshold.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause theprocessor to change the second gain based on the first transmit powerwhen difference is greater than the threshold.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first transmit poweris less than the second transmit power.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the processor to: transmit a third signal through theantenna array after changing the second gain, and change a parameterassociated with at least one of a first phase shifter connected to thefirst antenna element and a second phase shifter connected to the secondantenna element based on a third transmit power of the third signal. 18.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the processor to change the parameterwhen difference between an input power for the third signal and thethird transmit power is greater than a threshold.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the processor to: obtain a first feedback powercorresponding to a 1 dB compression point (P1 dB) of the first poweramplifier, and obtain a second feedback power corresponding to a P1 dBof the second power amplifier.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 19, wherein the input power of the third signalcorresponds to the first feedback power or the second feedback power.